Multiple SEC schools already after rising junior RB Denzel Mitchell

The state of Alabama has a new top running back that every Southeastern Conference school is going to want.

247Sports.

Denzel Mitchell is only a rising junior running back, but already has scholarship offers from Ole Miss, Arkansas and Arkansas State. The 5-foot-10, 197-pound running back grew up in Alabama, but left the state after eighth grade for Jonesboro, Ark. When he left Alabama he was primarily playing on defense, but returned this June to Hamilton as the nation's No. 4 running back in the class of 2016, according to 247Composite.

Mitchell had success during his two years in Jonesboro, but he and his family wanted to return to Hamilton. Hamilton coach Rodney Stidham was more than fine with the top prospect transferring back into his school.

"He's got a lot of God-given ability that you can't coach or teach," Stidham said. "His instincts as a running back are very well-defined. He's head-and-shoulders above any of the running backs I've coached at Hamilton because of his ability to see the hole and his burst of speed."

Stidham says just having Mitchell around in the fieldhouse has given his program "a lot of confidence." Mitchell already knows the Hamilton offensive system and should be able to just jump in and play right away.

"On off days, I'll still be in the weight room," Mitchell said. "There are no days off. If you want to be the best, you have to work. That's what I did."

Alabama, Auburn and Notre Dame are all recruiting him. He visited Auburn during spring break and plans to attend camps at both of the in-state SEC schools. Auburn running backs coach Tim Horton and Alabama wide receivers coach Billy Napier are the two assistants recruiting him. Neither school has offered him a scholarship yet, but it could only be a matter of time.

Mitchell says he didn't grow up a fan of either of the two schools, but rather as a fan of the SEC. His dream is to play football for an SEC school.

"He's a very humble kid," Stidham said. "He's not the kind of guy to seek out a lot of notoriety. He said 'I want to play in the SEC.'"